Automatic switch stand



July I 7, 1923- s. RIDDEL AUTOMATIC SWITCH STAND cut therein.

Patented July 17, 1923.

{BEN W. ALBRIGHT ONE-FOURTH TO 'VIILLIAM ZELLINOIS, AND ONE-FOURTH '10 JAMES I, ra er fluNIT-Eo stares rarest earri snuanon runner, on "SPRINGFIELD, rumors, ASSIGNC-B- or onn-roou'rn T0 waia- 3'. GRAHAM, OF SPRINGFIELD; ILLINOIS.

ho ror-rams swrrcrr s rann.

Application filed March 15, 1922 Serial *No.54.3,9'28.

To aZZ whom iZ IiZ Ld-fl/0071067 72! i w Be =1t known that I, Srrnnnoo' Brown, a

citizen of the United States, residing at Spring-field, in the county of Sangamon and State'ofllli-nois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Automatic Switch Stands, oi which the following is a specification. j f i y i This invention relates to automatic switch stands and more particularly to a'vehiele actuated switch mechanism of simple construction.

The primary object of the invention is to provide a switch stand ofgthis character which will be much more simple in construction than any of the switches now generally employed in coal mines and on railroads, and which will be durable and efficient in operation so that actuation of the switch will be assured when the operating mechanism'is actuated.

A further object of the invention ,is to provide a mechanism which will assure longitudinal movement of the operating rod when the mechanism is placed inmotion.

Other objects of the invention will appear upon consideration of the following detail description and accompanying draw- .ings, wherein I Figure l is a perspective view of the device constructed in accordance with my invention,

Figure 2 isa horizontal section therethrough taken approximately on 'the line 2-.2 of Fig. 1, to show the interior construction.

Referring to the drawing by numerals, the supporting structure 1 consists of a base,

plate 2 adapted to be mounted in position adjacent the switch rails. This base plate supports a housing 3 which is in the forniof a sleeve having a central bore 4. The sleeve, it will be noted, is disposed horizontally sothat the bore 4: extends horizontally through the sleeve to receive a horizontally disposed operating screw 5 having worm threads 6 The operating screw 5 is considerably longer than the sleeve 3 and the interior of the sleeve or bore-4 is provided.

with corresponding screw threads whereby the worm screw 5 will mesh with the threads on the interior of the sleeve 3. In this mannor the screw 5 forms a longitudinally movable actuating member for the switch mechanism. An automatic operating lever LAHNERS, orn on :onoa'run,

7 is adapted to be fixed toone end of the screw or actuating member 5. Thislever IS providedwvith a sleeve 8 fitting over an extension 9 on theend of the screw, the

sleeve being rigidly secured to th exten sion 9 by a fastening bolt 10 passing transversely through the sleeve 8 and extension 9 as shown in Fig. 2. This sleeve 8 also serves Jas-a coupling member to provide a swivel ]O111i3 for the operating rod 11. The sleeve 8 1s providedatone end with an opening 12 smaller than the interior bore of the sleeve and theoperating rod 11 is extended through the opening 12 and is provided on its inner end with a head 13 thus preventing withdrawal of the operating rod 11 from the sleeve but permitting the sleeve to freely rotate with the screw .5 without'rotating the rod 11. The head 13 is removably attached to the rod 11 by any suitable mechanical expedient to permit the parts to be readily assembled. The freeend of the operating rod 11 is provided with any suit; able connection 14 whereby the operating rod may be attached to the opposite end of the sci-ewe is equipped with a hand lever 15 carrying a weight 16 to as- Sure quick operation of the device when the lever, 7 is engaged by a passing motor or vehicle. The frictional engagement of the operating screw with theworm threads in the sleeve 3, is tight enough to maintain the lever 15in its vertical position until the actuating lever 7 is forcibly moved to either side. The operation of the device will be rea-dilyapparent fromthe above descrip tion, but it should be noted that the mechanism is arranged adjacent the rails over which the motor or vehicle travels so that a trip or other extension on the motor or vehicle will engage the lever 7 swinging the lever and thus turning her 5. Since the sleeve 3 is stationary it. will be o'bvious that th screw 5 will longi the actuating Inemswitch rail. The

housing or sleeve 3 and thereby imparts longitudinal movement to the operating rod 11 for imparting the necessary movement to the switch point as will be readily understood.- a v l Minor changes maybe made inthedetails of construction without departing from the spirit of the invention or the scope of the claims hereunto appended.

Whatis claimed is v 1. A switch stand comprising a station- V ary screw threaded sleeve, a screw-threaded actuating member engaged with the threads in: v said sleeve,

- to said actuatingmember whereby said rod willTbelactuated longitudinally when said actuating member his-j turned in said sleeve,

means fixed to saidactuating member to be forcibly engaged for mparting, an initial rotary motion to; said actuating member,

and a weighted lever mounted on the end.

of th actuating member for continuing the rotary movement of said actuatingmember after the initialim'petus has been imparted 1 to said "means.

2. A switch stand comprising a station an operating. rod "connected ary screw threaded sleeve, an actuating member provided with screw threads engaged with the screw threads on the said sleeve, an actuating lever, a coupling sleeve with a head to prevent withdrawal of the said operating rod from the said sleeve whereby the said sleeve will; impart longi-L tudinal movement to the said operating rod when the actuating member is moved, a

weighted lever mounted'onthe end ofthe c said actuating member opposite to the said sleeve forcontinuing the rotary motion of the said actuating member-after the initial impetus has been receivedfby-the firstvmeni tioned. actuating lever. a l g In testimony whereof I aflix my signature. SHERROD RIDDEL. 

